Foot-supporter.



G. E. PASSAGE. FOOT SUPPOBTEB. vAPPLIoAtlmls FILED MAB. 25, 1909;

Patented om; 5, 1909;'

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CHRISTOPHER E. IASSAGE, OF PSADENA, CALIFORNIA.

FOOTSUPPORTER.

Specification ofletters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, i909.

Application filed. March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,646.

' To au wh'oni it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ciims'roriinn E. Prissxon, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles aud'State of California, have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Foot- Supporters; and I do declare the following to be .a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in l foot supporters.' v

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which the muscles and ligaments of the arch of' thek foot will be yieldingly supported and cushioned and the joint of the greattoe protected. A further.A object is to provide a simple and inexpensive supporter and protector of .this-character which may be formed in the -sh'oe when manufactured or which may be applied to shoes already made and having means whereby the same will be firmly held against movement in the shoe.

` With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of the supporter showing the same applied to a foot, the latter being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is atop plan view vof the supporter; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a shoe and through the supporter arranged therein; and Fig. et is a cross .sectlonal view of the same'j My improved supporter maybe con-- structed of any suitable material but is prefof stiff leather and consists of a sole portion l, which is substantially the 'same shape as the insole of the shoe and is made in various sizes to tit` various sized shoes. The sole portion l extends from the heel 2 of the shoe nearly to the toe portieri thereof, as shown. The devices are made in rights and lefts and on the inner edge of the sole port-ion l is formed an upwardly projecting s\1p1' )ortingand'cushioning portion 2, vThe portion 2 begins at or near the heel end 'of the-sole and extends to the toe/end thereof and has its upper edges inclined upwardly v the portion to a point immediately behind the place where the large joint of the great toe engages the shoe.`.

ln the vsupporting portion of the device, at the point Where the sole is engaged by the joint of the great toe is formed a circular opening 3" which is engaged by the joint of the great toe. The edges Vof the opening are beveled olf on both the inner and outer sides of the portion 2, so that a recess is formed and the material on either side of the opening 3 serves to hold the side of the shoe away from' the joint and 'thereby protects the latter from being rubbed or injured by the shoe.

j, In the supporting ortion of the device, on the outer side of t e same, the material :is cut to form a series of parallel scores 4C, said scores being connected at their opposite ends with perforations or apertures 5 formed through the portion 2, as shown. iVhere Q joins the sole portion l on the outer side of the material, is also formed an elongated score G'which follows the shape or contour of the inner side of the insole and facilitates the bending upwardly of the supporting portion The scorings and 6 and the apertures 5 extend 0n both sides of the hole 3.

Secured to the upper side of the sole por' tion l of the device, is a'longitndinally dis- "posed flat metal spring 7 which is rigidly secured to the sole at its opposite ends by means of eyelets or other suitable fastening devices 8. The spring 7 is arranged along t-he inner sides of the sole adjacent to the portion 2 and serves as ayielding support Afor the arch of the foot or to aid the sole portion l and the supporting portion 2 in performing this oiice when they are formed of a light flexible grade of leather. then the device is formed of aheavy or stift' grade of leather, the spring T may be dispensed with..

"lhis device may be readily applied to shoes already manufactured and when so applied, will be held in position by means of the solo portion l which fitssnugly within the slices and engages the insole thereof. In shoes which are being manufactured, the de- 4vice may be readily inserted and secured thereto in any suitable manner during the course of constructing the shoes. The device when applied to a shoe in either manner, will befound to be an elficient support for cushion the muscles and ligamentsof the arch of the foot, relieving the sameof a great deal ,of strain and by providing the scorings and apertures hereinbefore described, the supporting ortion ofthe device Will form a or the sides of the foot and the aperture 3 will form a recess to receive the joint of the great toe and the surrounding portions of the material form a shield or guard to rotect the joint from being rubbed or injure 'by the side of the shoe.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection Withthe accompanyino` drawings, the construction and operation o? the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extendedexplanation. Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

A -foot supporter comprising a sole portion shaped to lit Within a Shoe, an integrally formed supporting portion on the inner edge of said sole portion, said''supporting portion projecting upwardly around the inner edge and arch of the` foot and having formed therein a joint protecting aperture and a series of longitudinally extendin scorings terminating at their opposite en s in perforations'whereby a cushioning effect is imparted to said protecting and supporting portion of vthe device.

In testimony whereof Illiave hereunto set my hand 1n presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

-onnisfrornnn E. PASSAGE fitnesses P. J. CHRIST, Jol-1N McDoNALD. 

